Sphaerodactylus

Sphaerodactylus is a genus of geckos from the Americas [2] that are distinguished from other Gekkota by their small size, by their round, rather than vertical, eye pupils, and by each digit terminating in a single, round adhesive pad or scale, from which their name (Sphaero = round, dactylus = finger) is derived. All species in this genus are rather small, but two species, S. ariasae and S. parthenopion, are tiny, and – with a snout-vent length of about 1.6 cm (0.63 in) – the smallest reptiles in the world.[3]

Sphaerodactylus
Sphaerodactylus macrolepis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Sphaerodactylidae
Genus: Sphaerodactylus
Wagler, 1830[1]

Species

The following 107 species are recognized as being valid.[4]

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Sphaerodactylus.

References
  1. "Sphaerodactylus ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
  2. Gamble T, Bauer AM, Colli GR, Greenbaum E, Jackman TR, Vitt LJ, Simons AM (2011). "Coming to America: Multiple Origins of New World Geckos". Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 231–244.
  3. Pennsylvania State University (2001). World's Smallest Lizard Discovered in the Caribbean Archived 2009-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 26 January 2009.
  4. "Sphaerodactylus ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  5. Noble, G.K. and Klingel, G.C. August 11, 1932. American Museum Novitates number 549: "The Reptiles of Great Inagua Island, British West Indies."

Further reading
  • Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (Sphaerodactylus, pp. 142–164).
  • Wagler J (1830). Natürliches System der AMPHIBIEN, mit vorangehender Classification der SÄUGTHIERE und VÖGEL. Ein Beitrag zur vergleichenden Zoologie. Munich, Stuttgart and Tübingen: J.G. Cotta. vi + 354 pp. + one plate. (Sphaerodactylus, new genus, p. 143). (in German and Latin).
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